Autumn Activity on Pevensey Levels

 Now that autumn is here, the landscape on Pevensey Levels has undergone a tidying up before winter arrives. The maize crop has been harvested for winter feed, the hedgerows have been cut back and the meadows have been mown.

In some untouched corners, the Wall (Lasiommata megera) has produced a healthy third brood, with males battling each other for territories and females busy laying eggs during the last couple of weeks.

Mating pairs of Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and ovipositing females of Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) are still active in the reed beds.

Wall (Lasiommata megera)

(female)

(female ab.mediolugens)

(male)

(ovum)

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)

(ovipositing female)

(male)

The Environment Agency are now in the process of raking out Floating Pennywort from the water ditches. This invasive water weed clogs the ditches very quickly during the summer months and must be cleared. This activity attracts Herons and Egrets to look for prey as the dragged weed is left on the ditch sides to rot.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 

Great White Egret (Egretta alba)

Some Moths during September

 The overnight weather conditions for moth-trapping during September were generally good. As usual for this time of year, visitors to the trap were a mixture of migrants, residents and episodic breeders.

Four-spotted Footman (Lithosia quadra) (male)

Delicate (Mythimna vitellina)

Portland Ribbon Wave (Idaea degeneraria)

Palpita vitrealis

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)

Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago)

Oak Hook-tip (Watsonalla binaria) (male)

Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)

Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)

Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) (larva on willow)

Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) (larva on willow)